Maharashtra orders probe on Maval police firing

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government today ordered a probe by a retired high court judge into the police firing incident in Pune district in which three persons were killed during protests over a closed pipeline project.

Replying to a debate on the issue raised through an adjournment motion, Home Minister RR Patil said the probe would cover whether there was an excessive use of force by the police and if the Opposition parties had instigated farmers to resort to violence.

He said the probe report would be submitted in three months.

Three persons were killed in Maval when police opened fire on the protesters over a closed pipeline project on Pavna dam to facilitate water supply to the industrial township of Pimpri-Chinchwad yesterday.

Not satisfied with Patil’s reply, Opposition members trooped into the well shouting slogans against the government.

Sanjay Begde (BJP) climbed onto the podium and lifted the Speaker’s mace following which Speaker Dilip Walse Patil adjourned the House for 15 minutes amid uproarious scenes. The House was once again adjourned for 15 minutes as the opposition members continued their slogan shouting against the government.

Earlier, Patil told the Assembly he had asked the local superintendent of police to view the video footage of police officials damaging vehicles of the protesters. “I have directed that the officials concerned be identified and immediately suspended. Such action was unwarranted,” he said.

Terming the police firing “unfortunate”, Patil said adequate police bandobast was maintained in Maval but the protesters wanted to stop traffic on the expressway to garner more attention and resorted to violence.

PTI